"Why should I be angry?" Yoriichi tilted his head, looking genuinely confused.
"I'm insulting you—insulting, do you understand?! Get mad! Come argue with me! How can a person have no temper at all?!"
"Hmm..." Yoriichi lowered his gaze for a moment, thinking deeply. Then he lifted his eyes toward the extremely agitated swordsmith. "But you didn't say anything wrong. I also believe I'm just an ordinary, unremarkable person."
"Aaaargh! You—!" The second swordsmith grabbed handfuls of his own hair. "Your temper is too good! At times like this, you're supposed to pull your sword and point it at the other person's neck!"
"But you're stating facts, so why would I be angry with you?" Yoriichi looked even more puzzled. "Wouldn't it be rude to fly into a rage simply because someone spoke the truth?"
"Aaaah—this is killing me! I've never seen such a hopeless Swordsman!" Swordsmith No. 2 turned toward his companion—who was clinging desperately to Hiru's hand while muttering instructions. "Akiha! We're leaving! Stop crying, you idiot!"
"But Mr. Nogi—" Akiha sniffled, eyes red. "This is my first child! Uuuu... I just can't stop worrying... uuuh…"
"Enough already! Go back and forge a new Nichirin Blade!" Nogi pried Akiha off Hiru and dragged him away. Before leaving, he jabbed a finger angrily at Yoriichi. "If my blade doesn't kill at least ten demons before it's returned to the Swordsmith Village, I swear I'll give you a punishment you'll never forget!"
Even while being pulled away by the furious Nogi, Akiha sobbed loudly, "Uuuh... Mr. Hiru, I entrust my child to you! Uuuh... Please don't let him return to the Swordsmith Village too soon! Mr. Hiru! Mr. Hiru! Absolutely not! Treat him well! Uuuu..."
Sabito watched the two swordsmith vanish into the distance and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Maybe I should be grateful that Giyu's and my swordsmith didn't come…"
Hiru also let out a long sigh, staring stiffly at the blade in his hands. "Honestly… I'm starting to feel psychological pressure."
Sabito nodded sympathetically, then eyed Hiru's serious expression. "But… it seems like you're the type who can't handle people being soft with you?"
Yoriichi gently rubbed the sword's tsuba, smiling faintly. "It's true. As long as someone speaks kindly, Hiru becomes completely helpless."
"Doesn't that apply to everyone?" Hiru muttered, unhappy. "If someone who truly cares about you suddenly starts crying and begging you, anyone would panic, right?"
Sabito chuckled. "Speaking of which… Yoriichi, your swordsmith was pretty fierce. Doesn't that make things difficult?"
"Hm?" Yoriichi looked at Sabito, tilting his head in thought. "Not really. Mr. Nogi only spoke the truth."
"What truth? He was obviously picking a fight." Hiru turned toward Yoriichi, pouting. "If we'd swapped swordsmiths, I would've yelled that guy into crying today."
"That would be too harsh." Yoriichi reached out to rub Hiru's hair. "They work sincerely for us. And you were entrusted with something too, weren't you?"
"I'd rather not be entrusted like that…"
"Caw! Caw! Mission! Mission!" the Kasugai Crow shrieked. "Multiple disappearances in Ishikawa! All corpses found faceless and with missing parts! Suspected demon presence! Mizunoto swordsman Tomioka Giyu and Mizunoto swordsman Hiru, depart immediately! Depart immediately!"
Hiru froze. "Huh?! Why pair me with Giyu instead of Sabito?!"
But the crow ignored him completely and continued screeching:
"Tsuchinoe swordsman Yoriichi and Mizunoe swordsman Urokodaki Sabito! Depart for Nagano at once! Many travelers missing in the mountains! The investigating Kakushi have lost contact! Lost contact!
Demon presence confirmed! Depart immediately! Depart immediately!"
Sabito tightened his grip on his newly received Nichirin Blade, worry flickering in his eyes. "Getting missions this quickly… seems like things aren't good."
Yoriichi grabbed Hiru's wrist just as he rolled up his sleeves to snatch the crow out of the air. "Enough. Since you're part of the Demon Slayer Corps, do your duty."
"…I don't want to be separated from my brother." Hiru puffed his cheeks and glanced at Giyu. "And I especially don't want to be stuck with this guy."
Giyu tilted his head. "We're different. I won't drag you down."
"See? There he goes again!" Hiru groaned. "Seriously, can I poison him mute?!"
"Actually, what Giyu meant was: [Even though I'm weak, I'll do my best not to slow you down]." Sabito covered his face, then clasped his hands together. "I'm entrusting my little brother to you, Hiru! He may not talk much, but he listens well!"
"Hiru, Giyu is younger than you," Yoriichi said, unable to hide his smile. "That makes you the older brother."
Hiru: …Somebody else can be the big brother! (ﾒ｀ﾛ´)/
But in the end, Hiru still took Giyu to Ishikawa—because even if he disliked the Demon Slayer Corps, he still had to fulfill his duties.
Yoriichi and Sabito headed toward Nagano.
...
Before leaving, Hiru drilled their communication rules into Giyu:
Say "hungry" when you want to eat.
Say "go" when you're ready to move.
Say "wait" if you fall behind or if I stray from the route.
Say "alert" when you spot the enemy.
For questions, just nod or shake your head—or repeat key words.
And absolutely no extra conversation until the mission ends.
Otherwise, I'll break your legs and send you to Wisteria House to recover.
Giyu remembered Sabito mentioning that Hiru once shattered a hand demon's torso from twenty meters away with a sheathed blow. His expression grew serious. After inspecting his Nichirin Blade and uniform, he nodded and said goodbye to Urokodaki and the others.
Then he turned to Hiru. "Let's go."
Hiru waved at Yoriichi's helpless expression and set off with Giyu.
Giyu followed the communication rules faithfully, but after saying "wait" seven times within just an hour, he brought over a long stick. He held one end and handed the other to Hiru, expression stern.
"Stay close."
Hiru thought for a moment, then obediently grabbed the stick.
He really was in the wrong this time.
With Giyu's unwavering navigation, they reached Ishikawa much faster, arriving the next evening.
"Looks pretty peaceful…" Hiru observed the bustling town market, then glanced at the crow on his shoulder. "It's here?"
"Caw, correct! Caw! Investigate! Investigate! Caw—"
Hiru shooed the crow away. "Alright, alright. Stop yelling in my ear."
Giyu watched him quietly, blue eyes calm.
"If we split up, I… might not return on time." Hiru rubbed his chin. "Together?"
Giyu nodded and pointed at the group gathered in front of the notice board.
"Hm, that's a lead… but we could also ask the victims' families. Which one?"
"Notice board. Closer."
"Alright, let's start with that!" Hiru said, pulling Giyu forward. He approached a friendly-looking middle-aged man with a smile.
"Sir, excuse me! I'd like to ask you something!"